Probably ever since I injured my knee, I've been on the fence about rolling luggage.

Previously, I was hardcore "I didn't need wheels when I was in the Army, and I don't need them now!" Cue Tom Bihn and Red Oxx fixations.

However maybe it's a symptom of still not packing as light as I could be packing, but recently I've been mostly feeling, "Checking in my carry-on sized rolling luggage is good. Taxis are good." It could just be my bum knee talking, but honestly it's so much more convenient to have to deal with your luggage as little as possible, than to lug it around the entire airport (including restrooms and restaurants) and "have the freedom to" carry it all on your back/shoulder while you explore the city's public transit system/walking.

There are some caveats, though. At times you will need to travel via train or subway, and not all stations have elevators and/or escalators. But they will definitely have stairs. In these cases, it is much more of a breeze to go up and down the stairs with your luggage on your back vs. having to haul it by hand (or, if you don't care for your luggage much, to drag it step by step - I have seen this done!)

However, since those inconveniences are minor at worst, back to the benefits of wheeled luggage.

1. More security. Few non-rolling luggage configurations (backpacks, duffels) have true lockable zippers - the kind you can't manipulate to open even when locked! (See http://www.onebag.com/bags.html#bag-security ) However, manipulating a zipper this way is harder when the sides of your luggage are rigid, as with rolling luggage! Even more so, many rolling luggage styles incorporate locks that don't just lock the zipper pulls, they lock the zipper heads for more security. How much do you trust the hotel/hostel staff to not give in to curiosity, or darker motivations?

2. Less grungy. When you hand in your luggage for safekeeping, for example when you have to check out early but have a late evening flight, you can rest assured that no matter how dingy the storage room, you won't have to press your body against the bag later.

3. Those who insist on helping you with your luggage will appreciate it. I felt bad when my mother's 60-year-old friend wouldn't take no for an answer and carried my non-rolling luggage for me from the station to their home. Wouldn't it have been much easier for all involved if he could have just rolled it instead?

Technically, I should have had one day free for doing things like the San Diego Wild Animal Park, or Sea World, or even contemplating bussing/training it up to Los Angeles to surprise my grandma at her convalescent hospital.

However, the night before that was so stressful, it was all I could do to drag myself to the Seaport Village and walk around a bit.

To cut a long story short and at the same time gloss over incriminating details:

My seat partner was less than ideal

I had to get work done on the flight

My experience as a retail worker sure came in handy

I think the people across the aisle from me felt sorry for me

After I made it to the hotel, I had even more work to do before I could finally sleep

It was past midnight when I finally ate room service dinner

So that was Tuesday. Wednesday, the waiter at one of the Seaport Village restaurants called me "Sir," the Greenpeace people tried to appeal to me by talking about China, and one of the vendors asked me as I walked away, "You speak Japanese? Konnichiwa!" And then when I went to Ralph's to try to avoid the inevitable $30-$40 meals and expensive alcohol, the disapproving cashier asked me, "Are you really over 21?" AFTER she had already seen my ID.

Oh, and I'd forgotten to bring my jacket, so even the awesome San Diego weather wasn't as enjoyable as it should have been.